Scrolling on your phone for too long could put people at higher risk of debilitating migraines, a new study suggests.
Researchers at Taiyuan Central Hospital in China found that prolonged phone use was one of two habits associated with an increased risk of painful headaches – along with eating large quantities of poultry.
Drinking coffee and consuming fatty fish like mackerel and tuna, on the other hand, were associated with lower risk.
The study is the latest linking phone use to migraine – a serious and painful long-term condition causing attacks of headache, light sensitivity, fatigue and nausea.
A Turkish paper published earlier this year found that smartphone use increased both the duration and frequency of headaches in migraine patients.
Overuse of phones was also linked to poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in people with the condition.
In the UK, around six million people suffer from migraine. Most resort to painkillers to dull the agony or prescription medications – called triptans – which can shorten the duration of seizures.
In recent years, the NHS has started rolling out a number of groundbreaking migraine drugs – known as calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors – which are highly effective in reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms.
Researchers at Taiyuan Central Hospital in China found that prolonged phone use was one of two habits associated with an increased risk of painful headaches.
A Turkish paper published earlier this year found that smartphone use increased both the duration and frequency of headaches in migraine patients.
But these drugs are only offered to patients who have not responded to other treatments.
Experts advise migraine patients to identify the habits that trigger their attacks.
Stress, low blood sugar, and excess caffeine can all increase the risk of migraines.
“For some, screen light or glare is a trigger, while for others, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders from prolonged screen time can contribute to a seizure,” says Pippa Coulter, head of UK migraine charity The Migraine Trust.
“If attacks are common after using a mobile phone, it may be helpful to experiment with screen brightness, adjust text size if necessary, assess posture while using the phone or monitor screen time which seems to be causing problems.
“Taking regular breaks could help reduce the likelihood of an attack being triggered.”